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Legal Proceedings
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings
Legal Proceedings

Like many companies in our industry, we have from time to time received inquiries and subpoenas and other types of information requests from government authorities and others and we have been subject to claims and other actions related to our business activities. While the ultimate outcome of investigations, inquiries, information requests and legal proceedings is difficult to predict, adverse resolutions or settlements of those matters may result in, among other things, modification of our business practices, product recalls, costs and significant payments, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
 
Pending patent proceedings include challenges to the scope, validity and/or enforceability of our patents relating to certain of our products, uses of products or processes. Further, we are subject to claims of third parties that we infringe their patents covering products or processes. Although we believe we have substantial defenses to these challenges and claims, there can be no assurance as to the outcome of these matters and an adverse decision in these proceedings could result in one or more of the following: (i) a loss of patent protection, which could lead to a significant reduction of sales that could materially affect future results of operations, (ii) our inability to continue to engage in certain activities, and (iii) significant liabilities, including payment of damages, royalties and/or license fees to any such third party.
 
Among the principal matters pending are the following:

Patent Related Proceedings:

REVLIMID®: In 2012, our European patent EP 1667682 (the ’682 patent) relating to certain polymorphic forms of lenalidomide expiring in 2024 was opposed in a proceeding before the European Patent Office (EPO) by Generics (UK) Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. On July 21, 2015, the EPO determined, based primarily on procedural grounds, that the ’682 patent was not valid. Celgene appealed the EPO ruling to the EPO Board of Appeal, which stays any revocation of the patent until the appeal is finally adjudicated. No appeal hearing date has been set. We do not anticipate a decision from the EPO Board of Appeal for several years and intend to vigorously defend all of our intellectual property rights.

In 2010, Celgene’s European patent EP1505973 (the ’973 patent) relating to certain uses of lenalidomide expiring in 2023 was opposed in a proceeding before the EPO by Synthon B.V. and an anonymous party. On February 25, 2013, the EPO determined that the ’973 patent was not valid. Celgene appealed the EPO ruling to the EPO Board of Appeal, which stays any revocation of the patent until the appeal is finally adjudicated. No appeal hearing date has been set. We do not anticipate a decision from the EPO Board of Appeal for several years and intend to vigorously defend all of our intellectual property rights.

We believe that our patent portfolio for lenalidomide in Europe, including the composition of matter patent which expires in 2022, is strong and defensible. Although we believe that we will prevail in the EPO proceedings, in the event these patents are found not to be valid, we expect that we will still have patent protection in the EU for lenalidomide through at least 2022.
THALOMID® and REVLIMID®: On October 2, 2013, Andrulis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Andrulis) filed a lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware claiming infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,140,346 (“the ’346 patent”). Andrulis alleges that we are liable for infringement of one or more claims of the ’346 patent, which covers the use of THALOMID® (and, as asserted by Andrulis, REVLIMID®) in combination with an alkylating agent (e.g., melphalan) to treat cancers. Andrulis is seeking an unspecified amount of damages, attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief. We disagree with Andrulis’ allegations and intend to vigorously defend against this infringement suit. On January 30, 2014, we filed a motion to dismiss Andrulis’ amended complaint. On April 11, 2014, the court denied our motion in part and granted our motion in part, dismissing two of Andrulis' four infringement claims without leave to amend. We filed an answer to the remaining claims on April 25, 2014. In February 2015, we filed a partial summary judgment motion.

The court held hearings on claim construction and on the partial summary judgment motion on May 27, 2015 and May 28, 2015, respectively. On June 26, 2015, the court issued its claim construction ruling and held that certain claim terms were indefinite. On July 28, 2015, the court entered final judgment in favor of Celgene. On August 27, 2015, Andrulis filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on the final judgment and its indefiniteness and claim construction rulings. Plaintiff's opening brief was filed on December 2, 2015 and our response was filed on February 16, 2016. No hearing date has been scheduled.

ISTODAX® (romidepsin): On May 28, 2015, we received a Notice Letter from Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (Teva) notifying us of Teva’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) that seeks approval from the FDA to market a generic version of romidepsin for injection. The Notice Letter contains Paragraph IV certifications against U.S. Patent Nos. 7,608,280 and 7,611,724 (the ’280 and ’724 patents) that are listed in the Orange Book for ISTODAX®.

On July 10, 2015, we and Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas) filed an infringement action in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Teva. In its answer and counterclaims, Teva asserts that the ’280 and ’724 patents are invalid and/or not infringed by its proposed generic products. As a result of the filing of our action, the FDA cannot grant final approval of Teva’s ANDA until the earlier of (i) a final decision that each of the patents is invalid and/or not infringed; or (ii) November 28, 2017.

On October 30, 2015, we received a Notice Letter from Teva notifying us of Teva’s New Drug Application (NDA) pursuant to FDC Act § 505(b)(3)(D)(i) seeking approval to engage in the commercial manufacture, use or sale of romidepsin for injection. The Notice Letter contains Paragraph IV certifications against the '280 and '724 patents.

On December 10, 2015, we and Astellas filed an infringement action in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Teva. In its answer and counterclaims, Teva asserts that the ’280 and ’724 patents are invalid and/or not infringed by its proposed products. As a result of the filing of our action, the FDA cannot grant final approval of Teva’s NDA until the earlier of (i) a final decision that each of the patents is invalid and/or not infringed; or (ii) April 30, 2018.

On March 2, 2016, the cases were consolidated. Fact discovery is set to close on August 31, 2016. A claim construction hearing is scheduled for August 23, 2016. Expert discovery is set to close on April 18, 2017 and trial is scheduled to begin on June 19, 2017.

THALOMID® (thalidomide): We received a Notice Letter dated December 18, 2014 from Lannett Holdings, Inc. (Lannett) notifying us of Lannett’s ANDA which contains Paragraph IV certifications against U.S. Patent Nos. 5,629,327; 6,045,501; 6,315,720; 6,561,976; 6,561,977; 6,755,784; 6,869,399; 6,908,432; 7,141,018; 7,230,012; 7,435,745; 7,874,984; 7,959,566; 8,204,763; 8,315,886; 8,589,188; and 8,626,531 that are listed in the Orange Book for THALOMID® (thalidomide). Lannett is seeking to market a generic version of 50mg, 100mg, 150mg and 200mg of THALOMID® capsules.

On January 30, 2015, we filed an infringement action against Lannett in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. As a result of the filing of our action, the FDA cannot grant final approval of Lannett’s ANDA until the earlier of (i) a final decision that each of the patents is invalid, unenforceable, and/or not infringed; or (ii) June 22, 2017. On March 27, 2015, Lannett filed a motion to dismiss our complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction and we filed a response to the motion on April 20, 2015. A hearing was held on July 27, 2015 and the Court decided to administratively terminate the motion to dismiss in order to allow us to conduct jurisdictional discovery. On November 17, 2015, Lannett withdrew its motion to dismiss.

On December 8, 2015, Lannett filed an answer and counterclaims asserting that the patents-in-suit are invalid, unenforceable, and/or not infringed and on January 19, 2016 we filed a reply to Lannett's counterclaims. On April 18, 2016, Lannett amended its answer to narrow the scope of its unenforceability counterclaims. Our reply to Lannett’s amended answer is due on May 12, 2016. Fact discovery is currently set to close on January 20, 2017. Markman briefing is currently scheduled to be completed on December 20, 2016. The Court has not yet set dates for a Markman hearing, close of expert discovery, or trial.

ABRAXANE® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin bound): We received a Notice Letter dated February 23, 2016 from Actavis LLC (Actavis) notifying us of Actavis’s ANDA which contains Paragraph IV certifications against U.S. Patent Nos. 7,820,788; 7,923,536; 8,138,229; and 8,853,260 that are listed in the Orange Book for ABRAXANE®. Actavis is seeking to manufacture and market a generic version of ABRAXANE® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin bound) 100 mg/vial.

On April 6, 2016, we filed an infringement action against Actavis in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. As a result of the filing of our action, the FDA cannot grant final approval of Actavis’s ANDA until the earlier of (i) a final decision that each of the patents is invalid, unenforceable, and/or not infringed; or (ii) August 24, 2018. Actavis has yet to file its Answer and no scheduling order has been entered. At this time, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this lawsuit. We intend to vigorously defend our patent rights.

Proceedings involving the USPTO:

Under the America Invents Act (AIA), any person may seek to challenge an issued patent by petitioning the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to institute a post grant review. On April 23, 2015, we were informed that Coalition for Affordable Drugs VI LLC filed petitions for Inter Partes Review (IPRs) challenging the validity of Celgene’s patents US 6,045,501 and US 6,315,720 covering certain aspects of our REMS program. On October 27, 2015, the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) instituted IPR proceedings relating to these patents. An oral hearing has been scheduled for July 21, 2016 and a decision is expected by October 27, 2016.

In accordance with the requirements of the AIA, we expect final decisions from the PTAB not later than one year after the institution of the IPRs. Any patent claim the PTAB determines to be unpatentable is stricken from the challenged patent. Any party may appeal final written decisions of the PTAB to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. We intend to continue to vigorously defend our patent claims.

Other Proceedings:
 
In 2009, we received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeking documents and other information relating to requests by manufacturers of generic drugs to purchase our patented REVLIMID® and THALOMID® brand drugs in order for the FTC to evaluate whether there may be reason to believe that we have engaged in unfair methods of competition. In 2010, the State of Connecticut issued a subpoena referring to the same issues raised by the 2009 CID. Also in 2010, we received a second CID from the FTC relating to this matter. We continue to cooperate with the FTC and State of Connecticut investigations.
 
On April 3, 2014, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Mylan) filed a lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that we violated various federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws by allegedly refusing to sell samples of our THALOMID® and REVLIMID® brand drugs so that Mylan can conduct the bioequivalence testing necessary for ANDAs to be submitted to the FDA for approval to market generic versions of these products. Mylan is seeking injunctive relief, damages and declaratory judgment. We filed a motion to dismiss Mylan’s complaint on May 25, 2014. Mylan filed its opposition to our motion to dismiss on June 16, 2014. The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus curiae brief in opposition to our motion to dismiss on June 17, 2014. On December 22, 2014, the court granted Celgene’s motion to dismiss (i) Mylan’s claims based on Section 1 of the Sherman Act (without prejudice), and (ii) Mylan's claims arising under the New Jersey Antitrust Act. The court denied our motion to dismiss the rest of the claims which primarily relate to Section 2 of the Sherman Act. On January 6, 2015 we filed a motion to certify for interlocutory appeal the order denying our motion to dismiss with respect to the claims relating to Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which appeal was denied by the United State Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on March 5, 2015. On January 20, 2015, we filed an answer to Mylan’s complaint. Fact discovery closed on April 8, 2016 and expert discovery is set to be completed by October 24, 2016. No trial date has been set. We intend to vigorously defend against Mylan’s claims.

In 2011, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California informed us that they were investigating possible off-label marketing and improper payments to physicians in connection with the sales of THALOMID® and REVLIMID®. In 2012, we learned that two other United States Attorneys’ offices (the Northern District of Alabama and the Eastern District of Texas) and various state Attorneys General were conducting related investigations. In February 2014, three civil qui tam actions related to those investigations brought by three former Celgene employees on behalf of the federal and various state governments under the federal false claims act and similar state laws were unsealed after the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to intervene in any of these actions. The DOJ retains the right to intervene in these actions at any time. Additionally, while several states have similarly declined to intervene in some of these actions, they also retain the right to intervene in the future. The plaintiffs in the Northern District of Alabama and Eastern District of Texas actions have voluntarily dismissed their cases. On April 25, 2014, we filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in the remaining (Central District of California) action, United States of America ex. rel. Beverly Brown V. Celgene Corp., unsealed February 5, 2014 (the Brown Action), which was denied except with respect to certain state claims. The complaint seeks, among other things, treble damages, civil penalties and attorneys’ fees and costs. We filed our answer to the complaint on August 28, 2014. Fact discovery closed on September 25, 2015. Expert discovery is set to close on June 30, 2016. Summary judgment motions are to be filed with the court by August 29, 2016. No trial date has been set. At this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or the ultimate legal and financial liability, if any, and cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any. We intend to vigorously defend against the claims in the Brown Action.

In February 2014, we received a letter purportedly on behalf of a stockholder demanding access to certain books and records of the Company for the purpose of investigating matters pertaining to the Brown Action. The Company complied with the demand, as modified through negotiation with counsel for the purported stockholder. In July 2014, we received a letter purportedly on behalf of two stockholders (one of which was referenced in the February 2014 letter) that demands, primarily on the basis of the allegations in the Brown Action, that our board of directors take action on the Company’s behalf to correct alleged deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls and to recover from current and past directors and officers damages those stockholders allege to have resulted from breaches of fiduciary duties related to the matters alleged in the Brown Action (the Demand). Our Board formed a Demand Investigation Committee, and with the assistance of independent counsel retained by it, the Demand Investigation Committee considered the issues raised in the stockholders’ letter. In October 2015, the Demand Investigation Committee reported to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors accepted the Committee’s recommendation, that the Company take no action at this time, legal or otherwise, in response to the stockholders’ demands. In November 2015, we received another letter purportedly on behalf of the same two stockholders that demands access to certain books and records of the Company for the purpose of investigating whether the Demand was wrongfully refused, the independence, good faith and due care of the Demand Investigation Committee, and whether the Demand Investigation Committee conducted a reasonable investigation of the Demand. On February 22, 2016, the Company produced additional documents pursuant to the November 2015 letter.

In November 2014, we received another letter purportedly on behalf of a stockholder demanding access to certain books and records of the Company for the purpose of investigating matters pertaining to the Brown Action. The Company complied with the demand, as modified through negotiation with counsel for the purported stockholder, and in November 2015 the stockholder filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court asserting derivative claims on behalf of the Company against eight current, and four former members of the Board of Directors. The complaint alleges, largely on the basis of allegations in the Brown Action, that the defendant directors breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the Company to engage in unlawful activity in its marketing of THALOMID® and REVLIMID®, and seeks from the defendant directors unspecified damages, including Celgene’s costs of defending against government and civil investigations and lawsuits and alleged reputational harm, and disgorgement of compensation paid to the defendant directors. On January 22, 2016, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on the basis that prior to filing the complaint asserting derivative claims the plaintiff was required under Delaware law and failed to demand that our board of directors take action on the Company’s behalf. On March 21, 2016, plaintiff filed an amended complaint. On April 5, 2016, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. A schedule for briefing and oral argument has not been set.

On June 7, 2013, Children's Medical Center Corporation (CMCC) filed a lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts alleging that our obligation to pay a 1% royalty on REVLIMID® net sales revenue and a 2.5% royalty on POMALYST®/IMNOVID® net sales revenue under a license agreement entered into in December 2002 extended beyond February 28, 2013 and that our failure to make royalty payments to CMCC subsequent to February 28, 2013 breached the license agreement. CMCC is seeking unspecified damages and a declaration that the license agreement remains in full force and effect. In July 2013, we removed these proceedings to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. On August 5, 2013, we filed an answer to CMCC’s complaint and a counterclaim for declaratory judgment that our obligations to pay royalties have expired. On August 26, 2013, CMCC filed an answer to our counterclaim.

On July 8, 2014, CR Rev Holdings, LLC (CR Rev) filed a complaint against Celgene in the same action. CR Rev alleges that CMCC sold and assigned a substantial portion of the royalty payments owed by Celgene on the sale of REVLIMID® to CR Rev. CR Rev has alleged causes of action with respect to REVLIMID® identical to those alleged by CMCC, and seeks unspecified damages and a declaration that the license agreement is still in effect. 

Discovery in this matter has been completed. On August 4, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment on certain claims, including breach of contract, declaratory judgment and, with respect to Celgene’s counterclaims, patent misuse.  Oral argument on the motion was held on October 21, 2015.

On February 23, 2016, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation that the Court allow-in-part and deny-in-part the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. The Magistrate Judge recommended to the Court to allow royalties on sales of REVLIMID® during the period from March 1, 2013 through May 11, 2016, and to deny the remainder of plaintiffs’ motion, including seeking royalties on sales of POMALYST®/IMNOVID®. On March 8, 2016, we filed objections to the Report and Recommendation. No trial date has been set by the court.

We intend to vigorously defend against CMCC's and CR Rev’s claims. As of March 31, 2016, we consider the range of reasonably possible loss relating to this lawsuit to be between zero and $156.5 million, with the high end of the range being the royalty payments on REVLIMID® we would have made to CMCC under the license agreement through March 31, 2016, if our obligation to pay royalties remained in effect. CMCC contends that our royalty obligation continues on net sales of REVLIMID®, as well as POMALYST®/IMNOVID®, at least until May 2016. If CMCC prevails, we may be obligated to continue to pay royalties on sales for periods after March 31, 2016.

On November 7, 2014, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Local 1 Health Fund (IUB) filed a putative class action lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that we violated various state antitrust, consumer protection, and unfair competition laws by (a) allegedly securing an exclusive supply contract with Seratec S.A.R.L. so that Barr Laboratories (Barr) allegedly could not secure its own supply of thalidomide active pharmaceutical ingredient; (b) allegedly refusing to sell samples of our THALOMID® and REVLIMID® brand drugs to Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Lannett Company, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories so that those companies can conduct the bioequivalence testing necessary for ANDAs to be submitted to the FDA for approval to market generic versions of these products; and (c) allegedly bringing unjustified patent infringement lawsuits against Barr and Natco Pharma Limited in order to allegedly delay those companies from obtaining approval for proposed generic versions of THALOMID® and REVLIMID®. IUB, on behalf of itself and a putative class of third party payers, is seeking injunctive relief and damages. On February 6, 2015, we filed a motion to dismiss IUB’s complaint. On March 3, 2015, the City of Providence (“Providence”) filed a similar putative class action making similar allegations. Both IUB and Providence, on behalf of themselves and a putative class of third party payers, are seeking injunctive relief and damages. Providence agreed that the decision in the motion to dismiss IUB’s complaint would apply to the identical claims in Providence’s complaint. A supplemental motion to dismiss Providence's state law claims was filed on April 20, 2015. On October 30, 2015, the court denied our motion to dismiss on all grounds.

Celgene filed its Answer to the IUB and Providence complaints on January 11, 2016. The completion of fact discovery and expert discovery is scheduled for August 1, 2017 and December 15, 2017, respectively. No trial date has been set. We intend to vigorously defend against IUB’s claims.

On July 20, 2015, a putative class action lawsuit, Scott v. Receptos, Inc., related to our acquisition of Receptos, was commenced by the filing of a complaint in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware, Case No. 11316, against Receptos, members of the Receptos Board, Celgene and Celgene’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Strix Corporation, which is a party to the acquisition agreement. Four other complaints, Cacioppo v. Hasnain and Rosenberg v. Receptos, Inc. (Cases Nos. 11324 and 11325) filed on July 23, and Kadin v. Receptos, Inc., filed on July 27 (Case No. 11337), and Rockaway v. Hasnain (Case No. 11346) filed on July 28, 2015 raise similar putative class claims in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware against some or all of Receptos, members of the Receptos Board, Celgene, and Strix Corporation. These complaints generally allege breaches of fiduciary duty by members of the Receptos Board in connection with the Merger Agreement. In the Scott, Rosenberg and Kadin actions, the plaintiffs also allege that Celgene and Strix Corporation aided and abetted the purported breaches of fiduciary duty. On August 17, 2015, all parties to these actions entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which sets forth the parties’ agreement in principle for a settlement of the actions. As part of the proposed settlement, prior to the closing, Receptos made certain additional disclosures related to the acquisition. The parties have since terminated settlement discussions. Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the action without prejudice to plaintiff’s right to seek an award of attorneys’ fees. The briefing for plaintiff’s motion for attorneys’ fees is to be completed by June 29, 2016. Oral argument on the motion for attorneys’ fees will be held on July 21, 2016.